Ryan K., 3

Ryan is a three-and-a-half-year-old boy and the younger of two children. He lives with his parents and sibling in a one-bedroom, mud-walled house without electricity at his grandmother’s homestead. His mother cares for the household, while his father relies on informal manual jobs to provide for the family. Their limited income makes meeting basic needs and medical expenses difficult. Two days before seeking care, Ryan developed intermittent fever, frequent diarrhoea, vomiting and refusal to eat. His mother reported giving him paracetamol and metronidazole syrup at home, but any relief was temporary and his condition did not improve. Concerned that he was becoming more unwell, she rushed him to hospital. On arrival, Ryan appeared very ill and was having difficulty breathing. A hospital staff member explained Helpster Charity’s support to his mother, offering the family an opportunity to seek assistance with his medical expenses.

Ryan was admitted with severe malaria and gastroenteritis after he presented with complains of passing of loose stool many times, vomiting everything, fevers, refusal to feed and general body malaise. Prognosis is guarded due to risk of severe anemia, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, electrolyte disturbance and cerebral complications from severe malaria, worsened by gastro- intestinal fluid losses. Prognosis expected to improve to good with prompt antimalarial therapy, fluid and electrolyte correction and close monitoring.